Thursday, June 17, 2010

Nagpur, Jun 17 (PTI) An anti-cancer drug extracted from cow urine and developed by an affiliate of the RSS has got a US patent for the third time for its anti-genotoxicity properties, a senior official has said.

The drug developed by RSS-backed Go Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra had earlier got the US patent as a bio-enhancer with antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs.

The research for the drug brand named 'Kamdhenu Ark' was carried out jointly by the Anusandhan Kendra and National Environmental Engineer Research Institute (NEERI), Acting Director of NEERI Tapan Chakraborty said.

The research found that Re-distilled Cow Urine Distillate (RCUD) was useful for protecting and repairing DNA from oxidative damage, Chakraborty and Sunil Mansinghka of Kendra told reporters yesterday.

Oxidative DNA damage is a leading cause of ageing, cancer and other diseases.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has discovered a lost trekking stretch connected to the Kailash Mansarovar pilgrimage route and documented all related information in a book released Thursday.

The stretch, from Gala to Kathgodam, was discovered after a team of the ITBP's 7th battalion embarked on a project to trace those routes that once 'formed a part of the ancient route of the fabled Kailash-Mansarovar yatra', Commandant A.P.S. Nimbadia said.

Nimbadia, the chief of the battalion based at Mirthi in Uttarakhand's border district of Pithoragarh, was leading the team that conducted six expeditions to trace the route.

Nimbadia said the rediscovered route can serve as an alternative stretch to the pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, considered to be the abode of Hindu Lord Shiva. The mountain lies near the Mansarovar lake in Tibet.

Nimbadia said he hit upon the idea of exploring long-lost routes because pilgrims have to suffer a lot due to rains and landslides on the route that they take now.

'I thought they could have been immediately rescued if we had even a slight idea about those long lost trekking routes forming a part of the ancient Kailash Mansarovar yatra route. In case of any calamity, we don't have alternative routes to provide relief to and rescue pilgrims. This route, if revived can be used in case of an emergency,' he said.

'It is even said that Dogra warrior Zorawar Singh and his army followed the same route before they attacked Tibet and conquered it.'

ITBP Director General R.K. Bhatia released the book and praised the 'inspiring achievements' of Nimbadia.